Raveners? Anyone?

[thecastigator]

I know the faq dampened people’s love of deep striking, but do these guys have a place in a non jorm list? Or any list for that matter.

love the models but can’t seem to jam them in my list.

[nackanid]

All the roles that they can fill is filled by other units that do it better... Also love the model but... :/

[irondreddknight]

I run them from time to time. Armed with two sets of talons bringing them to 5 attacks base. And I’ll also give them spine fists, which fires as manatee shots as you have attacks, so 5. And since they’re pistols, you get 10 attacks in combat per model.

There’s also something to be said about the tactical flexibility of the jormangandr strat.

I normally run mine in a unit of 5 alongside shrikes, they’ll charge first to absorb over watch, while contributing 50 attacks.

Sure there’s other options, but think they can still work.

[tomcaet]

Jul 5, 2018 6:22:00 GMT irondreddknight said:

I run them from time to time. Armed with two sets of talons bringing them to 5 attacks base. And I’ll also give them spine fists, which fires as manatee shots as you have attacks, so 5. And since they’re pistols, you get 10 attacks in combat per model.

There’s also something to be said about the tactical flexibility of the jormangandr strat.

I normally run mine in a unit of 5 alongside shrikes, they’ll charge first to absorb over watch, while contributing 50 attacks.

Sure there’s other options, but think they can still work.

While they don't need a nerf, RAW I think the Scything Talons attack doesn't add to the Spinefists. Talons let you attack one additional time when fighting, but don't explicitly modify the characteristic. Spinefists reference the Attacks characteristic directly.

[irondreddknight]

Jul 5, 2018 10:58:38 GMT tomcaet said:

Jul 5, 2018 6:22:00 GMT irondreddknight said:

I run them from time to time. Armed with two sets of talons bringing them to 5 attacks base. And I’ll also give them spine fists, which fires as manatee shots as you have attacks, so 5. And since they’re pistols, you get 10 attacks in combat per model.

There’s also something to be said about the tactical flexibility of the jormangandr strat.

I normally run mine in a unit of 5 alongside shrikes, they’ll charge first to absorb over watch, while contributing 50 attacks.

Sure there’s other options, but think they can still work.

While they don't need a nerf, RAW I think the Scything Talons attack doesn't add to the Spinefists. Talons let you attack one additional time when fighting, but don't explicitly modify the characteristic. Spinefists reference the Attacks characteristic directly.

That’s a fair point. Raveners are still left with 5 melee attacks and 4 spine fist shots. 9 attacks in total per model is great for hordes and invulnes.
It’s also a great distraction unit. Imagine your opponents face when your rolling 9 dice per model each turn.
(I run 5 so that’s 20 shots and 25 attacks re rolling 1’s)

And they deep strike, have 3 wounds, move 12” For only 120p (unit of 5) they’re not bad at all.

[mattblowers]

I love raveners myself, but I can't find a way to make them work. They are faster warriors with no synapse and worse loadouts.

[calbanite]

I think they are only useful if you leverage their tunnel ability for Jorg units you want popping up. They give you a larger deployment footprint at a cheaper cost than a Trygon.

I bought 6 right before the FAQ thinking for sure GW wouldn't possibly 'nerf' Raveners..... well I don't even want to talk 'bout 'dat no more.

[Indominus]

To be honest, at this point Raveners are just Warriors that traded options and synapse for Deepstriking and better melee. A unit of 9 with The Red Terror may be workable, but every time ive used them they tend to die pretty quickly in melee. A bot too expensive for what they are supposed to do really.

[Hive Fleet Strigoi]

Yeah only 4 shots with spinefists and only on our turns, but cheap as chips so better then nothing.

[Kitane]

I don't expect them to do much on their own. But I love to use them as reinforcements, plug up holes, add more bodies, firepower and melee attacks to achieve a local advantage.

[xetemara]

I really find they work pretty well tying Eldar shooty units and even the dirty cheap spinefists work nicely against T3 ... For sure they are not even close to Tier S/A but they give me a fuzzy warm feeling every time I bring them.

[Hive Bahamut]

The single thing that kills it for me is 0 upgrades. You are either bad Genestealers, or Horde Blenders, that die to Hordes. I even had a box on order until the FAQ hit burying them once again.

IMO the Serpentine look should be given to all our Winged beasts. Would make the 6 limbs nonsense easier to follow.

[Jbizzy]

Ravener base point needs to come down for what they are at present, but then they are expensive models for to few points. Shame, they are my favorite models for nids.

[Hive Fleet Ragnorok]

I haven't run them yet in 8th - every time I look at them Shrikes just stand out as a better option. Mind, I do miss the ability to DS with them, but Synapse, Shadow, and the ability to take more CC options are totes worth the extra points, IMHO.

That said, the ability to be buffed by a character is something that Shrikes miss (would luuurve me an update giving them DS and Prime buffs), but 2 units of Ravs and The Red Terror is... fine for a friendly-esque list, probably.

[cunningtyrant]

Raveneres are really bad in this edition. The only role that other tyranid units can't do better is dual scything talons+spinefists loadout. Which is only good against hordes (which I never play against).

If you want to bring anyone under the ground with the Jormungandr strat, Trygon is simply better than they are (you can buy 7 raveners or 1 Trygon. For me the answer is obvious).

I converted 9 of my raveners as Jormungandr Tyranid Warriors - that's the best use I could find for them, sadly.